2022-2023 Teacher of the Year

Desirai Pannell As a 27-year veteran of the Lowndes County School System, all of which has been spent at Clyattville Elementary School (CES), I have remained loyal and dedicated to serving and empowering the youth of CES and the Clyattville community at large. As a mother, I was honored to have my own children attend CES, allowing them the immense opportunity to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and compassion exuded by my colleagues, and the overall inclusive culture of our CES campus community. During my time at CES, I have been blessed to wear many different hats, whether that was serving as a team leader and peer mentor, directing school wide philanthropic efforts, mentoring dozens of aspiring, and now current educators, as well as serving on numerous committees both school and district wide.  However, the best hat I have received the privilege of wearing, is simply being Mrs. Pannell to the many students who have walked through my classroom door, year after year. It has always been my intention, and my personal imperative to provide a safe space for my students, a place where they can be unapologetically themselves, and free from the worldly challenges that so many endure once they leave our hallways.

I have 2 children, Michael and Savannah. I have been happily married to my high school sweetheart for 28 years.